Can starting vigorous exercise worsen your immune system short-term?

[johnjohn320]

Believe me, I know how silly that question sounds. Clearly, immunity is boosted from leading a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise. I'm just noticing a bizarre, anecdotal trend with myself:

I've been your typical American over the last few years-I go for months without exercising very much, eating lousy food, etc. Then, I'll wake up and go "whoops, I need to start taking better care of myself." And so I start eating better and exercising every day. After 5-6 months of that, I start to get lazy, bogged down with work and other stress, and the workouts slope off, the diet worsens. Then I realize it's time to get back on the horse and start exercising again.

What's strange is, every time I start up the exercise again, within a week, I get sick. Nothing major, just a cold or the like. It takes me down for a few days, then I continue on, and of course the exercise and improved diet makes me feel better long-term. It happened again this week when I started exercising again after being pretty sedentary most of the summer, and that's the third time it's happened with such timing. So, is it possible that my body's resources get diverted in a strange way that I temporarily become less immune to illness?

 

[johnjohn320]

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/injuryprevention/a/Ex_Immunity.htm

Guess I just answered my own question. Interesting!

 

[highland145]

This research is showing that more than 90 minutes of high-intensity endurance exercise can make athletes susceptible to illness for up to 72 hours after the exercise session. This is important information for those who compete in longer events such as marathons or triathlons.

That's a lot of exercise after a 6 month layoff. Would be interested to see if you did not get sick by being very careful with hand washing/sanitizing for the first 2 weeks back.

 

[Blintok]

start taking L-Glutamine.
Hard exercise cuts Glutamine by ½
L-Glutamine is used by the immune system.

years ago i always caught a cold when i increased workouts. I found out about that stuff and ever since i rarely ever even get sick. When i do feel a cold coming on i double my Glutamine intake for a day or 2 and the cold goes away.